#warner threads.

"i was starting to wonder if you'd disappeared on me or something."

warner wasn't hiding his disdain well as the other entered the cramped office, looking away so he could express it without it necessarily being in her face. "what are you doing here? i have a meeting with montgomery, i don't remember seeing your name anywhere on his schedule."

as the waitress stepped away, warner reached up to cup his shoulder over his t-shirt, trying to work his fingers over the tense knots that had formed there over the last few hours. relentless police questioning did that to a person, not to mention the fact that they'd treated him like he was the one who'd done it and not the one who'd walked in on the dead body of his favourite professor. when he'd spotted olive on his way out of the police station, somehow they'd wandered together to the parking lot, only for him to suggest they head to the twenty-four hour diner up the street. for some reason, she'd agreed and now there they were, sitting in awkward, heavy silence. "did they ask you anything weird?" he asked out of the blue, trying to break it.

"okay, well how about this, you explain why you're avoiding me and then maybe i'll consider going home."

games night is in full swing, with warner and iri peeling off from the group at the same time after a ridiculously long game of monopoly. he's grateful to have a moment alone with her in the big oakes kitchen, standing behind her as she opens the fridge. he reaches over her head for a water bottle and then leans against the counter as he takes a sip, eyeing her. "you having fun? i think lu is happy you're here, she thinks some of my friends are annoying but she's always loved you."

"what other logical explanation is there? we're the only ones who know about this and it's not like i'm sending these texts to myself!" warner was frustrated, clearly pushed to the brink by the week he'd been having.

the quiet of the morning is a stark contrast from the noise of the night prior, to the point that warner could still hear phantom bass when he awoke that morning face down on his bed. the house doesn't look quite as bad as it did even twenty minutes earlier as he makes his way around, trash bag in hand. he came across gracie quickly into the clean up job, but he's made his way to her side of the house now, noticing that this is the only time they've ever really been around each other without lula close by. his sister is currently knocked out in the upstairs tub, sleeping off being practically black out drunk, so it's better to leave her be. "you hungover at all? we could take a break soon. grab some breakfast... or i could cook. depends how much you trust me with a spatula." he offers a grin, hopeful she might take him up on either.

"are you..." warner lowers his voice. "are you touching yourself?"